ACTS of POETRY

Committing Acts of Poetry by Joe Peace (and friends)

(Raymond)
I am looking for poets who will stand for something
more than some applause
who in the name of Paul Robeson, Harriet Tubman
And sacrifices made
Make sacrifices
For our children and set examples for generations to come

(Ti Kendrick Randall)
Poets who will stand with school children and spit
on the school yard
just so they can learn to express themselves
just so we can learn the words belonging only to childhood

(Naila Mattison-Jones)
Poets who will tell the truth
of the industry lies
and where real money is made
not by corner store pushers
but in board room deals...
Where cool heads
And intelligence prevails

(Raymond)
I am looking
I am listening
For people willing to Commit Acts Of Poetry
Who understand telling The TRUTH is a revolutionary act
Who know that speaking TRUTH to Power
Doesn't happen so much on the stage
as it happens in the Street

(Ti Kendrick Randall)
and for what it's worth - needs to happen at home
i am at home with poets who don't mind if their participles dangle
because their personal truths are heavy
truth unspoken often weighs on the mind
and if you're ready i will show you
show you truth

(Reynald Williams)
I’ll show you ACTS OF POETRY,
WHEN THE WORDS YOU SPEAK BECOME YOUR LIFSTYLE, YOUR WALK
LET YOUR ACTION BE HEARD,
GOD KNOWS NO MAN IS SIN FREE,
AND MY SOUL, HAS COMMITTED ACTS OF POETRY.
NOT WAITNG TO BE JUDGED
I COP A PLEA,TO COMMITTING ACTS OF POETRY,
ACCUSED OF MINDSTATE CHANGING...
UPLIFTING SPIRITS AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SATAN.
committing acts of poetry in God's name
living our lives inside the flames,
we are burning for change,
passion for life makes us write
words that gives insight
to what we can be
while committing acts of poetry.

(Ti Kendrick Randall)
i am watching
i am waiting
for poets who will commit heinous and resounding acts of poetry
like shotgun blasts heard 'round the world

(Raymond)
We came to tell you that this ain't just another
"venue"
we ain't just another "clique"
this is "serious business"
Taalam will tell you "This is God's Work"
This is not just another “Put Up Job”
We Committed to saving lives
We Committed to breaking chains

(Ti Kendrick Randall)
we committed to calling bullshit, bullshit.
we committed to applying ourselves to our craft
and getting the message to you
this is our life's mission...
our sole ambition
and we
we are hoping for
praying for
Poets who will post this post on their doors
Wear it as a mantra on their chest
Like a scarlet letter Guilty of committing acts of random poetry

(Raymond)
Guilty! Guilty of smiling and sharing some sunshine
when my hood seems buried in clouds
and content to party with ignorance
and drink to
the same ol same ol that's been wrong with my hood
for four generations deep
Guilty of writing random words of change
I’m guilty of putting positive ideas on post its
Breaking out in higher thoughts at bus stops
I copy
pages from The Isis Papers
and put them in the library and super market
in between the pages of Vibe and XXL

(Raymond Tyler)
See that boy over there
he was a certified gangster
who would kill anything
But his own ignorance
I put some Gil Scott Heron in his hand
laced him with some Last Poets...
And after some Amiri Baraka
He committed an ACT of POETRY called Love
And his kids ain’t been the same since

(Bob Geise)
The kids aren't the same
and don't have to embrace “being poor”
because God didn’t shine on them
The kids don’t have to wear bling
Now they shine for themselves

(Kathy Gordy-Mathis)
We've committed ACTS OF POETRY
We’ve Committed to sharing our voice with this world
it seems as our sparkling jewels are lost in space
but to those who actively listen
for those who actually pay attention to their surroundings, our jewels are beginning to glisten.